Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Since MO Bar has always had great success as a concert venue, it makes sense that after doing the whole established-artist thing, the Landmark Mandarin Oriental people would move on to exposing those deemed the Next Big Thing. In a music scene already saturated with big-name performances (Lady Gaga tickets, anyone?) it's nice to know that someone is taking a risk and putting energy behind unsigned artists or up-and-comers.

Of course, this is MO Bar, not Fringe Club, so it's a fairly sure thing that these are going to be the movers and shakers of tomorrow, and anyone who was there last February 18 will then have the privilege of saying they sat in on an early VIPs-only viewing party. And we at Hong Kong Fashion Geek will have the pleasure of saying that we interviewed them, back when they were still known as "internet sensation Joe Brooks," "local pop star of tomorrow Shiga Lin," and "the next Joni Mitchell Halie Loren."

Read on to see who Joe Brooks' man-crush is, what cheesy love song Halie Loren sings in the shower, the secret behind Shiga Lin's flawless skin and more.

Joe Brooks

HKFG: What fashion item can’t you live without?
JB: Underwear.

HKFG: What’s the thing you could live without... but still can’t bear to part with?
JB: Laptop! I sleep with it most nights.... Sad.

HKFG: What’s your favourite thing about Hong Kong?
JB: In so many ways its modern and ahead of the curve and yet has so much culture and tradition, it's sooo beautiful!

HKFG: Tell us your secret ambition.
JB: World domination.

HKFG: What’s the song that you sing in the shower?
JB: You Got a Friend in Me from Toy Story (don't ask why).

HKFG: What’s your worst nightmare?
JB: Occasionally I get this nightmare where I'm running away from someone but my feet won't run... This probably means something deep and disturbing but I wake up and life happens.

HKFG: What’s your favourite iPhone app?
JB: BBC World News

Halie Loren

HKFG: What's on your lust list?
HL: SK-II Face Cream; being a guest actor on Mad Men; a sailboat I could live on for a year.

HKFG: What fashion item can't you live without?
HL: My high heels! I have over 60 pairs of them. They make the outfit.

HKFG: What's the thing you could live without... but still can't bear to part with?
HL: Scarves. They can make any otherwise plain outfit have flair, and they are GREAT for traveling (instant sleep mask, pillow, etc.).

HKFG: What's your favourite thing about Hong Kong?
HL: It is so beautiful and dramatic - the skyscrapers and high-rises set against a backdrop of amazing mountains made for quite an awe-struck first impression.

HKFG: Tell us your secret ambition.
To make music and art that will be remembered 100 years from now.

HKFG: What's the song that you sing in the shower?
HL: I can only pick one?! That's difficult. I guess lately it's been C'est Si Bon, which I have stuck in my head from my new album. Oh, and also Jason Mraz's Lucky.

HKFG: Your ultimate indulgence food or go-to food when you're stressing out?
HL: No contest - chocolate. The darker, the better. A good, strong americano coffee is a close second.

HKFG: The celebrity you would most like to be/trade places with is...
HL: Cate Blanchett. I just admire her talent so much, and she seems like a genuinely good person who cares about her craft, and remains grounded despite her fame.

HKFG: What was your first big investment purchase?
HL: My piano.

HKFG: What you would wish for if a genie came out of a lamp to grant you three wishes?
HL: The perfect source of safe and clean renewable energy, a worldwide shift to organically grown food, and awesome dance skills.

Name your secret-weapon beauty product.
HL: Red lipstick! And lots and lots and lots of water.

HKFG: What's your worst nightmare?
HL: Being stuck on a plane for 12 hours with the worst turbulence imaginable. Good thing I've already been through that. :)

HKFG: Last thing you think about before going to sleep?
HL: My family. And checking and re-checking my alarm clock, since I am not the easiest person to wake up.

HKFG: What's your favourite iPhone app?
HL: I have a Droid phone, but the apps are similar - I love my photo editing app. Endless fun with effects, especially the vintage ones.

Shiga Lin

HKFG: What’s on your lust list?
SL: 1. i hope to have a concert or show of my own in the next 2 years
2. I hope to buy an apartment for my mom before 30
3. i hope my work could be recognized around asia the next few years.

HKFG: What fashion item can’t you live without?
SL: I think the fashion Item i cant live without would probably be high heels, since i think heels give confidence to a female's body and it enhances a women's body curve.

HKFG: What’s the thing you could live without... but still can’t bear to part with?
SL: Desserts. I love cake, chocolate, sweets, anything that has lots of sugar, I love. It makes me happy when i'm upset, I could live without it, but it'll be really hard, as its one of the very few things that takes my mind off stress.

HKFG: What’s the song that you sing in the shower?
SL: Im Still Loving You, my song, I just love the lyrics.

HKFG: The celebrity you would most like to be/trade places with is...
SL: I have many inspirations/role models, that i wish to one day become, one of the most influential celebrity would be Sammi Cheng. Her movies, and music really touches me. Her performance and energy on stage is amazing.

HKFG: What was your first big investment purchase?
SL: Buying funds. I honestly dont know too much about it, but apparently it's a good way to save up and a rather good investment.

HKFG: What you would wish for if a genie came out of a lamp to grant you three wishes?
SL: 1. I want wings
2. The power to make everyone around me happy and smile
3. The ability to live without having to sleep so I could have more time to accomplish more things. 24 hrs a day is just not enough!